Improvement in magazine-guns



3 Sheets-Sheet l.

Magazine-Gun.

W. R. LIVERMORE au A. H. RUSSELL.

WITNESSES h 3 Sheets-Sheet-2. W. R. LIVERMORE 8v A. HLRUSSELL.

Magazine-Gun.

No. 221,079. Patented ot. 28,1879.

WITWESSES f III to the firing` of any desired number ot' rounds 'wlnle' avoiding the necessity ot' carrying a 'zinc-chamber or transverse opening in the stock to receive the cartridges which pass siderwise to a longitudinal channel or feed-tube,

l tridgcs in cases or packages adapted to be UNITED STATEs 'PATENT OEEIGE.

VILLI'AM lt.. LIVERMORE AND ANDREW H. RUSSEDQOF UNITLEINSTATES I ARMY., y

IMPROVEMENT 1N` Specification forming part fil' lnittrrslatent No. 2'2l,079, dnt-edctober ".18, application filed i October 10, 1878.

To all @011cm it mail concer-n.; Be it known that we, WiLLIAM It. LIVER- MORE and Annnnw 1 1. ltUssnLL, both ofthe United States A'rm y, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magazine-Guns,ot` which the following is a spccitication.

Our invention relates yto improvements lin breech-loading tire-arms of the class in which from a magazine to the firing-chaniber, tired,

Our object, mainly, is to provide a gun espeheavy weight-of fixed annnunition in the stock ofthe gun.'

We provide'the gun with a lateral umgaalong which they are fed endwise to the tiringehamber. i

When the 1nagazine-ehamber is emptied it may quickly be filled to renew the supply ot' cartridges and enable any desired number of shots to be fired. and this without interfering with the longitudinal feeding devices or the cartridgesin the feed-tube. We' 'pack the carreadily inserted in and removed from the magazine-chamber as occasion requires, said cases or-holders being also adapted to be carried by belts. or cartridge-boxes. These eartridge holders or cases are also constructed so that the cartridges maybe taken from them one at a time tobe tired singly or to replenish the 1nagazine-chamber or a partially-depleted case in the magazine-ehamber.

The subject-matter deemed novel is hereinafter specifically claimed.

In the accoml'mnying drawings, which show so much ot' a ,breech-loading magazine-gun as is deemed necessary to illustrate our invention, we have shown our improvements as embodied `in the best way now known to us. Obviously, however, some of our improvements may be used without the others, and the details ot' construction and some of the minor parts may be modified 'in various well-luiown ways without departing from the spiritof our invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the stock ot' the arm inthe plane otthe line 11, Fig. .2, with parts broken away ;A Fig. 2, a longitudinal section on'the line 2 2 of Fie'. 1, showing the longitudinal feed-tube or passage and attachments with the cartridges in place. Fig. 3y is a view, partly in vertical longitudinal central section and partlyT in side elevation, the stock only being in section. Fig. et is a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal longitudinal section, the receiver, breech-piece, or bolt-block and barrel beingin section on the line 4 4L ot' Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line 5 5 ot Fig. 6 through the breech-piece,

thc feed-tube, and reciprocating feed-bar orv cartridge-pusher, the feed-bar being shown in its most advanced position, and its actuatingrod in the position to which it is moved-when the breech-bolt, actuated by its controllinglever,or locking-bolt is thrust forward and a cartridge forced from the reciver into the tiring-chamber; yFic'. 6, a vertical longitudinal section on the line (i ti ot' Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section on the line 7 7 ot' Fig; 5. Figs. 8and 9 are vertical traizisvcrse sections through the feed-tube on the lines 88 and t) 9, respectively, of. Fig. 3. Fig .l0 is a similar section on the line 10 10 ot' Fig. 1, showing the arrangementot' the cartridges in the magazinechamber and the spring-plunger which plays beneath the chamber. Figs. 11 and 12 are, respectively, a plan and side elcvation of `one et the removable cartridge cases or holders "which fit kinto the magazine-chamber. 1 p

rllhe stock A of a suitable arm is slotted or l bored out longitudinally and near the bottom,

and provided with afecd-tube `or channel, A', intersected near its rear end by a transverse opening or magazinechamber, B, the chamber p opening into or terminating at bottoni in the tube.

The feed channel or tube A leads to. the` breech-piece and receiver as usual, and the cartridges are fed endwise along the tube and conducted one' at a time by proper feeding devices to the receiver, as is '.well understood.' YThe particular feeding' devices 'we prefer to. employ, and the manner of operating them, will hereinafter be described. The cartridges are supplied one after vanother from' the magazinecharn ber in the breechv to the feed-tube, soas to lie lengthwise thereof in line' therewith, the cartridges being conducted sidewise' along the magazine-chamber B.' The cartridges are arranged in the transverse magazine-chamber (if placed directly therein) so that the flange of anyone of the cartridges'below the top one vis overlapped by that of the cartridge next above. (See Figs. 1 and 10.)

By this relative arrangement or method of loading the chamber, the catching of one shell upon Vthe other, as the lowermost shells of the series are successively brought in line with and fed forward along the feed-'tube is avoided, as each shell of the lot as it becomes the lowermost one -has its flange in advance of that vnext above, and no impediment is offered by its overlying cartridge to the forward feed along the tube A.

We pack thecartridges in a series of cases or holders, Bt, sothat they 'may readily be carried by the soldier in a belt or box. rlhese cases are of a size and shape to' adapt them to 'fit properly in the magazine-chamber, and are operi at'the vbottom so that the cartridges may zsuccessivelyT pass sidewi'se Atherefrom to the feed-tube. A spring presses upon the top cartridge inthe'cases and acts as an extensible followerto feed the cartridges ,along and deliver them successively to the feed-tube A.

More particular description of the removable cartridge case or holder B"will hereinafter be given Instead of packing the cartridges in cases -or holders they may be placed by hand, as rer quired, directly in the magazine-chamber, with ktheir butts or anges lapped, as hereinbefore described; and when so supplied an expansible follower or feeding .and steadyn g spring bears upon v the top cartridge. This spring would have to be removably or adjustably se cured-as, for instance, upon the under side of a sliding orhinged cover forv the magazinechamber, so that the cover and spring may be vmoved out of the way to inspect and replenish the chamber, and be adapted to be readily secured in proper position to cause th'efollowerspring to bear upon the cartridges, keep them in their proper relative positions and force' the cartridges successively to the feeding-pas sage'A.

We prefer to use the cases or holders B.

These cases are preferably made of thin sheetmetal,v such ,as copper, brass, or` vtin. They may,l 1owever, be made of any'suitable mate nat-gesucht, for instance, as w1re,pasteboard,

' &c., and the bottoms or open ends of the cases are closed, with paper pasted over the openings, or with some other easilytorn and readily detachable material, so that the cases or packi agesgot' cartridges may easily and quicklyy be "opened, and so that this protection or covering for the bottoms maybe 'broken or'forced away from the cases to leave vthe ex'pansible follower or feeding and stead'yin g spring b freey to act. A

In Figs. 1l and l2 a case or holderB/, is shown as provided with a loop or ring, b', at

top, by which to handle it in removing it from and placing it in a suitable cartridge belt/ or box, and in .placingfit in and taking it from v the chamber B. At one side, or at both sides,

if desired, there is an opening extending from top to bottom, to expose the cartridges to' view and facilitate their removal by hand, and-at the top of the' case there is provided an opening, a, to admit of the insertion of the n ger or a pin or rodto bear Aupon the spring b, or upon the top cartridge when the case is in the magazineehamber, and in this way, by .downward pressure, cause the bottom cartridge tov bear upon the paper yor other weak covering a', at the bottom of the case, and tear or force it open. We'prefer to use tissue-paper, pasted over, the bottom, as at a', which is made. of a strength o r thickness sufficiently greatl to resist the force of the spring b', and yet -not so strong as to prevent it from being easily ruptured or broken away by the pressure. which may be .readily applied by the thumb or finger, or a short rod inserted at theopeninga.l

The strength of the paper used to temporarily cover the open cud, o utlet, or bottom of the case will depend 'upon the strength of the spring b. ,A Y'

Another and preferable way of .temporarily closing orpartially closing the outlet or bottom ofthe case, and holdin g' the cartridges in placeuntil after the case is insert-ed 4in the chamber B, is as follows: (SeeFigs. ll-and 12.) Twoopenings or small elongated slots, b2 .112', yare made through the top of each case near the edges of the case at the sides of the loop b', and about over or in the plane of the side openings in the case. A string, or, preferably, a band or piece of tape, a'which will giveabroader beariu g on the bottom cartridge than would a round string, is passed around the bottom ofthe case, and has its ends passed through the holes b2, and tied together in a slip knot or loop. The tape bears against the middle of the ylowermost cartridge in the-case, and is drawn tight before tying, so as to compress' the spring b, and hold the cartridges temporarily, as shown in the drawings.

When a case has been placed in the'transversemagazine-ch amber B, it is only necessary' to untie the knot in the cord, band,`or tape, and pull upon one end to'rexn'ove it, and leave the cartridges free to be acted onby the spring. In this way the possibility of clogging the feeding devices in thevlongitudinal feed-tube by bits of paper, which 'might jbe the result of employing the paper' coverings for the cases, is avoided.

' Itis obviousthat a broad strip of paper orv band of cloth might be passed Iaround the case confine the cartridges until to be used.` Such.

a strip might be made' f a width as great as the widthof' the case and length of the cartridges, or of anylless width desired, and the ends be temporarily heldY together by paste or otherwise. 'lo op'eutlic Acase bottom and release the cartridges, so as-to be free to be actedA upon by the spring b, it would `only be neces--` sary to break the connect-ion between the ends of thc band or strip at the top of thecase, and pull upon one end. In this way the bottom could be opened readily4 and quickly for the successive feeding out ofthe cartridges to the ylongitudinal tube'A'.

Any suitable device for removably securing the cases B' in the chamber 13, may be employed, such as a slide, spring-catch, turn-button, Ste.

1f the eases are made (as they may be) to lit tightly inthe chamber, and vso as to 'spring slight-ly, it is obvious that they would bind sufficiently in the chamber to be retained in place lby frictional contact between the cases and one or more walls of the chamber. suitable spring in a recess or slot int-he `stock at the wall ot' the chamber would answer to retain the cases in place, if made of a strength suflieient to bear with pressure great enough to hold the case against accidental displacement. By the| employment of these cartridgecascsrcr holders adapted to be used in connection with the magazine-chamber, it will be seen that a great number of shots may be fired in a short time with slight intermissions at intervals or during thc times of removing exhausted cases and inserting fresh'ones,aml that one of the objections to a magazine-gun -having capacity for firing a large number of shots, Viz., thc weight of the large number of cartridgcs, is obviated.

The front and rear walls ofgthe lateral mag- `azinc-chai-nber B are parallel with each other,

and the front wall (see Fig. 1) is preferably inclined slightly back ward from the perpendicular, so as to form an obtuse angle with the feed-tube A.

The shape of the cases B' corresponds with `that of the chamber. This chamber may be at aright angle with the tube A', but we prefer to give the slight'rearward inclination, as

' this oblique arrangement of the chamber and cases to the feed-tube facilitates the proper feeding of the cartridges to the tube.

By reference to'Figs. 1, 3, 11, and 12 it will be seen that the magazine-chamber B and the cartridge case or holder B are of corresponding form, thc'front backwardly-inclined end or wall of both chamber and case bein g shorter than the correspondingly-inclined rear end or wall, thus making the chamber and the case or holder deeper at rca-r than at front, to accommodate the, cartridges with their iiauges lapped. The top cartridges are cantcd or tilted on their points, and,asinoved downward, the cartridges gradually assume a position parallel with the feed-tube A'. lhe holder B' has an inclined bottom or outlet end,

tube A', as clearly shown by the drawings.

As first constructed-that is to say, preparatory to paekin g it with the cartridgesit is formed with an open bottom. Primarily considered, this holder may be described as having a closed top, inclined open bottom, and inclined ends of different lengths.

When the cartridges are placed in theI holder its bottom is temporarily closed, as already fully explained.

The feed-tube A is provided with a series of cartridge-holding springs vor lingers, (l, at distances apart corresponding with or very slightly exceeding .the length of the cartridgesfthat is, the distance'bctween the point or forwardlyprojecting free end of any one of these springs is at a distance fromthe point or free end ofthe next spring barely exceeding the length of a cartridge. The springs normally project inward, Vso that their ends shall' be behind4 the cartridges, and hold or dog them so as torprevent retrograde movement, and when. compressed by the contact of the cartridge they are fed forward the# springs yield, auditie in their seats or recessesin thc tube, as will' be understood by inspec#l tion of the drawings.,

Opposite thc" series of springs C, and in line with them, the feed-tube is slotted, and a rcciprocated push-bar or cartridge-feeder, D, working in suitable guides, plays in the slot. A series of yieldin g pushing lingers or springs,l d, like those (j, fixed to tlre opposite side of the tube, is mounted upon the push-bar, and these springs` serve at cach forward movement ofthe bar to feed forward the cartridgesand present the forward cartridge in the tube to the receiver ready to be pushed intothe iiri| 1g-chainb\er E, as will presently be explained.

:The impetus. given the cartridges by the' quick or sudden and forcible forward movement of thepush-bar propels the foremost car,

tridge farther forward (so 'as to deliver it well 4into the receiver) than the positive action of the pusher would move it, and creates a tendency on the part of4 all the cartridges to move a greater distance than required.

A check-finger or curved-ended spring, d',

acting upon the flange of the cartridge next to that delivered to the receiver, serves to prevent it, and those following it, from moving too far, as will readily be understood from au inspection of Fig. 5.; The force of this checliinger is -readil y overcome by the posi-9 tive action on the cartridges of the pusher., andi-t is thus caused to yield to let the previously-acted-upon cartridge pass forward, and then spring back to cheek the next and the following cartridges.

=A breech-bolt, E', and its attachments, of

usual construction--in this instance similar to that used in the well-known Hotchkiss gun, shown and described in United States Letters Patent of B. B. Hotchkiss, November 14,

1876, No.184,285serves to operate the earwork ih.

`v`the-freagirvifard' movement of the bolt.-

. FFV-hen retracted the .heel or head h of the glug, or' a'iiyrsuitable equivalent thereof, such tridge-feeder or push-bar I). As the bolt, the levery or handle by which to operate anddock it inposition, the triggerfand the trigger attachments and connections with 'the boltre in all respects, except as hereinafter otherwise stated, likcsimilar partsot' the said Hotchkiss gun, no description ot' these devices110t-es sential to an umlcrstanding ot' our inventionneed "befgivein A longitudinal slot, j', .is made in the side off.

'the receiver F. This slot is of a length somewhat greater than thatof av'cartridge of the kind used with Ythe gun.V JA shortV projection or lug, e, on the sideof the bolt E' near its frontend, reciprocatcs. in. this slot with themovements ot' the bolt. This lug is beveled, rounded, or'inclined on its front, from or'near its base to its point, and is straight or plane surfaced on its rear side.I

A .push-bar, retracting-arm, Vvor rod, F","is

pivoted at its head to the push-bar near its forward end,.and inclines or bends upward at its outer or free end, where it isprovided with a short projection or lug,'e, which plays to and fro in the receiver-slotj'. This ,lug e' is in# clined, beveled ott', or curved on its rear side or face, (see Figs. 2 and 4,5 and is straight or at aright angle with the retracting-rod F' on its front'sidc. i

The reeeivenslot f terminates for a portion ot' its depth at its rear end in an incline, f'.

Beneath and in rear of this incline f' the slot is continued and opens inwardly, oulybeing madefof a depth great enough to allow of the retrac'tioi'i of the bolt E' after the cam-faced lng'eon'its end passes to and in rear of the ineline'. (Sec Fig. 4.) v 'When the lug e reaches and enters the, narrow partly-closed rear end of the slot, or, as it may 'be'termeth the passage f2, at and in rear ofthe incline f', the lug is automatically disengaged from th lng e' on the pivoted rod ofthe push-bar, an'd this push-bai or car# tridge-feeder D is propelled forward, as' will hereinafter be explained.

The stock is recessedY or cut away at thev side ofthe receiver or breech-chamber F,'in

which the bolt works, and-.a'plate ory coverpieceand guideway, G, for the'rod, F', is secured tothe stock at the side of the receiver so as to form a passage or'wayfor the rod to (See Figs, 2 and 4.)

Upon the inside of the plate there is a rib or projection, Gr', between recesses or thin portions g g'. A. plate-spring, H, projecting Y from.. the frontfend of the inwardlyprojecting i 4rib or thickened lcentral portion Gfcf the y plate-G, normally keeps the lug e' of the refy tracting rod F" (when the heel or headot'ithey lug -isiii-contact with the spring H, as in Fig.l

..:4)fin'itlieproperposition to be engagedl by theI V`b'oltl'ug-@,fso"that the arm F' for retracting theI cartridge-feeder is moved backward' .by

n-'d'ependentshoulder or short projec` tionifon the outside of the arm F' near its-front end, passes along in contact with the spring H and the rib G' to' they recess g", into which 'it is forced by the lyielding of the rod F! 1 rwhen its'lug comes against Athe lincline f' .W This leaves the rod F' free Ato'admit of the for; t wardA thrust of the feed-bar l) to carry al cartridge to thereceiver and leave the lug e inv the position shown in Fig. 4. y

When the bolt E is thrust forward to secure the cartridge -in the tiring-chamber, its lug kc passes by the lug` of theretracting-arm, the

spring H yielding to admit ofV thiseoperation.. Y

The cartridge t6 be red being secured, and

the parts left in the position shown'by Fig. 4,-

the emptytshell after firing is extracted and,

thrown out iin a well-known way, bythe retraction of the belt when .the above-described operation is repeated. d y y f The push-bar or cartridge-feederD is thrusty forward automatically when the lug c' of the retracting-arm F' isl released, as above exfz plained, by any suitable means.

The speciic devices we prefer to employ their operations are asv follows: A spring,.I,

in the rear end of the longitudinal. feedtube or channel actuates a pushing head orpluinger, J, which'works to andl fro in, theieed;r

tube, the. bottom of which is` slotted longi-A tudinally to form a way,in which a suitable stud, catch-arm, or iinger-piece,-K, secured to j j the plunger is reciprocated.` A verticalslot' is also made in the under sideof the stock to accommodate the plunger actuating n ger.- The retrograde movement of the` plunger against the force of lthe-spring is given iteither byhand or by the feed-bar, according to circumstances. Normally, the spring Ifholdsther f Y lunfrer in 'its advanced fosition Las inl Fi s2 vand 3, and when in this position the rearmost cartridge of those in the longitudinal feed-)tube A', if this tube is full, liesupon the plunger, which is of a concave or seinicircular form;,gs`o as to provide a receptacle or. holder for the cartrid ge. I

chamber B, or in a case or holder,jl3',',therein,

the bottom cartridge rests in thefplungei The play or length-of reciprocationjof Ithe' plunger is governed either. bytheslotinjthe feed-tube or the slot vinthe stocldin which the linger 4K works, or by both; said. slots. The

plunger, when'moved forward by theH spring,-

acts upon the teedfbarlhiflinits retracted position, and when thefeed-,bar is in :itsfjadvanced position, as it always. is when the bolt is locked, the plunger maybe worked by hand to replenish or fill up,the longitudinal t'ee'dtube without actingonthefeed-bar. `lhatggthe plunger may thus ,bc-eretta@ by, hand it 11S unconnected with, their! dj-betjth t iisadartd-@O @het .eeilisjtlw is notjoined `with it.

When there are cartridges'1n,the magacine-- and 10,',i1pign 171.111,..

when the plunger is in its most advanced position, abut against or approach very near tok the heel or rear end of he'push-bar D.

We prefer to limit the forward movement of the plunger, so as `to stop it just before the nose L would strike the feed-bar wereits movel ment continued. unnecessary strain 011 the bar or its spring-tingers, as wel-l as prevent the possibility of de. ranging-the position of such cartridges as may be in the'partially-iilled tubewhen the feeding is done by hand-working of the plunger.

By limiting the play of the plunger to that portion ofthe tube A `beneath and in rear of the magazine-chamber or-lateral cartridge-sup- ',plying chamber B, and also forming this plunger separate from and unconnected with the push-bar D, and its-attached feeding devices', which operate only on the cartridges in front of the magazine-chamber and plunger, this plunger 'may be worked lwithout obstruction from or interfering with` the push-bar and its Y connections, thusenabling the user of the gun (when the breech-bolt is locked) readily to till up the tube A', if wholly or partially empty,

' fromthe magazine B, and falso enable him at,

feed-tingers of the thrust-bar.

The feed-bar, when worked by the bolt, necessarily operates the plunger by' abutting against it to retract it, while the working of the plunger by its' spring shoots forward thefeed-bar at the proper instant after said bar has been properly retracted by the bolt. The working of theA plunger does not, however, necessarily actuate the feed-bar, as 'has been explained with reference to hand-working.

We do'not wish to be understood as eonnin g'ourselves to the identical devices for feeding the cartridges specifically described, nor to the adaptation of our improvements to the Hotchkiss system, our invention, obviously, being applicable to many of-'the .systems of breech-loading tire-arms now in use. Ourim-v provements may, for instance, readily be applied to the Spencer magazine-gun..

We claim as of'our own inventionl l. The gun-stock havingthe lateral; magazine-chamber near the butt, thelongitudinal feed-tube intersected by" saidehamber, and the. plunger inthe rear .end of. the feed-tube and working beneath and in rear of the magazinechamber only, these members being and operatingsubstantially as hereinbeforev set forth,

In this way we avoid any f so' asto supply cartridges to the feed-tube without interfering with the feedin thereof, as described.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore 4set forth, of the gun-stock, having the longitudinal ,feed-tube, the feeding devices operating upon the cartridges therein, the lateral magazine-chamber intersecting -tlie feed-tube at or near its rear end, and the plungeroperating upon th-e cartridges supplied from the magazine-chamber in rear of the feeding devices whichoperate upon. the cartridges in the feed-tube, and unconnected with said feedingdevices, for the purpose set'forth.

3, The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the gmt-stock, provided with the longitudinal feed-tube, the reciprog devices eating push-bar operating the caIrtridge-feed-v ing devices in the feed-tube, the? breech-bolt acting upon an attachment -or connection of the push-bar to retract and release it, and the plunger acted upon bythe push-bar when retracted, serving to propel it forward, and having the capacity of operatingindependently of the push-bar and its "connections when in their advanced position, for the purpose described. 1 4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the slotted receiver, the breech-bolt having the lug or projection reciprocating in line with the receiyer-slot, as the breech-bolt is operated, the reciprecating pushbar actuating the cartridge-feedin g devices in the feed-tube, the actuating-arm of the pushbar operated uponby the breech-bolt lug to rst retract the push-bar and then release it prior to the eompletionot' the rearward movevment of the bolt, and the spring-plunger -to throw forward the push-bar when released during the iinish of the retraction of the breechbolt.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, ofthe slotted receiver, the ineline at the rear end of the slot, the breechbolt, its lug, the push-bar or cartridge-feeder working in the longitudinal feed-tube, its pivoted actuating-arm, and the lug thereon.

6. The combination of the actuating-arm of the feed-bar oncartridge-feeder having the inclined lug thereon adapted to work in the receiver-slot and to be acted 4on by the bolt,I and I the plate or cover having a central ridge or thickened portion and recessed at the ends of the pushbar or cartridge-feeder retracted as.

the breech is opened by devices substantially such as described, the springplunger, and its nose, against which the rear end of the pushbar abuts when retracted.

9.' The side-slotted cartridge case or holder B', shaped corresponding with the magazineehamber B inthe gun-stock, substantiallyv as and for the purpose set forth.

1H. As anew article ot' manufacture, the prepared package ot' cart-ridges, consisting ot' the vcase or holder' B, formed with the inclined bottoni, the inclined front and rear ends or Walls ot' different lengths, the permanentlyclosed top, the spring, and the temporarilyclosed bottom provided with the removable binder for the cartridges, essentially as shown aud described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our naines.

W. R. LIVERMORE.- ANDREW' H. RUSSELL. 

